Medical Laboratory Technician
Salary

Medical Laboratory Technicians in the United States take home an average $18.08 per hour. The bottom of the pay range sits near $13.61 per hour, and the top verges on $23.24. Experience level is the main element affecting pay for this group — the particular city and the individual firm are driving factors as well. A fair number report receiving medical coverage from their employers and a majority collect dental insurance. Female Medical Laboratory Technicians make up most of the survey respondents at 79 percent. The majority of Medical Laboratory Technicians claim high levels of job satisfaction. The data in this summary comes from the PayScale salary survey.

XTotal Pay combines base annual salary or hourly wage, bonuses, profit sharing, tips, commissions, overtime pay and other forms of cash earnings, as applicable for this job. It does not include equity (stock) compensation, cash value of retirement benefits, or the value of other non-cash benefits (e.g. healthcare).

XTotal Pay combines base annual salary or hourly wage, bonuses, profit sharing, tips, commissions, overtime pay and other forms of cash earnings, as applicable for this job. It does not include equity (stock) compensation, cash value of retirement benefits, or the value of other non-cash benefits (e.g. healthcare).

Job Description for Medical Laboratory Technician

Medical laboratory technicians perform standard medical lab tests such as blood tests, immunoassays, and cultures. They must be able to work independently to take lab tests and interpret patient results. They also must work with other health care professionals, such as doctors and nurses, to solve medical problems. Additionally, they are responsible for phlebotomy work, which includes the collection and preparation of patient samples, such as blood, urine, or stool. They must observe patient confidentiality protocols, as they are often working with sensitive personal information.

Outside of patient responsibilities, these technicians are also responsible for ensuring the equipment inside the lab works properly by periodically calibrating and testing it. They are also expected to know how to troubleshoot problematic equipment, evaluate new laboratory methods and equipment, and train new assistants and technicians on current operations.

Candidates for medical laboratory technician positions must be able to function in a stressful environment, be prepared to take on shifts at any time of the day or night, and be prepared to work periodic overtime. Flexibility with hours is particularly important at facilities staffed around the clock, such as hospitals. In addition, the candidate must be physically able to remain on their feet for most of the day, and be prepared to lift and carry lab samples or equipment from one location to another. They must also have good interpersonal skills, as they must interact with patients and their families on a day-to-day basis. It is also helpful to have strong leadership skills, as technicians will most likely supervise laboratory assistants and must be comfortable with delegating tasks and organizing work low.

In most laboratories, an associate's degree is necessary, most preferably in clinical laboratory technology (CLT) or a medical laboratory technology (MLT) program. In addition, candidates must either have, or be willing to obtain, national accreditation. Two appropriate certification options include the American Society of Clinical Pathologists (ASCP) or the National Agency for Laboratory Personnel (NCA). As for experience, the minimum is one to two years in a related field, and three to five years in microbiology or a similar field is preferred.

Common Career Paths for Medical Laboratory Technician

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Though some Medical Laboratory Technicians move into positions like Clinical Laboratory Supervisor (where the average salary is $56K), this progression is not the norm. A Clinical Laboratory Technician role is the most prevalent career advancement for Medical Laboratory Technicians. Paychecks for that role are $35K on average. The Clinical Laboratory Technologist position is another common transition for Medical Laboratory Technicians; in this role, salaries are typically at the $47K mark.

Medical / Clinical Laboratory Technician Job Listings

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Popular Employer Salaries for Medical Laboratory Technician

Medical Laboratory Technicians seeking a sizable paycheck can earn the most at Idexx Laboratories, Inc., where the average salary comes to $44K.

Quest Diagnostics is infamous for dishing out the smallest paychecks in the area (the median in that office is $40K), but the company pay scale is greatly mixed, meaning that workers on the low end may earn only $25K while workers on the upper end may rake in $56K.

Popular Skills for Medical Laboratory Technician

This chart shows the most popular skills for this job and what effect each skill has on pay.

Medical Laboratory Technicians report using a pretty varied skill set on the job. Most notably, skills in Microbiology, blood bank, Generalist Duties, and Quality Assurance / Quality Control are correlated to pay that is above average. It is often found that people who know Generalist Duties are also skilled in Phlebotomy.

Pay by Experience Level for Medical Laboratory Technician

Median of all compensation (including tips, bonus, and overtime) by years of experience.

More years of relevant experience do not necessarily translate to higher paychecks. Relatively untried employees who have less than five years' experience make $34K, but folks with five to 10 years under their belts enjoy an appreciably larger median of $39K. Medical Laboratory Technicians who work for 10 to 20 years in their occupation tend to earn about $41K. Old hands boasting more than twenty years of relevant experience report pay that is more or less commensurate with that extensive experience; average earnings for this group come out to approximately $45K.

Pay Difference by Location

For Medical Laboratory Technicians, working in the bustling city of Seattle has its advantages, including an above-average pay rate. Medical Laboratory Technicians will also find cushy salaries in Minneapolis (+11 percent), Chicago (+9 percent), Cleveland (+9 percent), and Austin (+9 percent). Birmingham is the lowest-paying area, 6 percent south of the national average.